North Carolina § 116-209 - 19A. Limit semesters eligible for need-based grants and scholarships.

§ 116-209. 19A. Limit semesters eligible for need-based grants and scholarships.

The Authority administers the following need-based grant and scholarship programs: the Education Lottery Scholarships, North Carolina Community College Grant Program, The University of North Carolina Need-Based Financial Aid Program, and Need-Based Scholarships for Students Attending Private Institutions of Higher Education. G.S. 115C-499.2 A, 115D-40.2, 116-25.1, and 116-281.1 limit the number of semesters that a student may receive a grant or scholarship from any of those programs and also provide the circumstances in which a waiver to those limits may be granted by the appropriate postsecondary institution. The Authority shall enforce these limitations in administering these programs so that unless a waiver is granted by the appropriate postsecondary institution, no student shall receive a grant or scholarship from any of those programs or any combination of those financial aid programs while pursuing a degree, diploma, or certificate for more than any of the following time periods: (i) 10 full-time academic semesters or its equivalent if enrolled part-time or (ii) 12 full-time academic semesters or its equivalent if the student is enrolled in a program officially designated as a five-year degree program. A postsecondary institution that grants a waiver under G.S. 115C-499.2 A, 115D-40.2, 116-25.1, or 116-281.1 shall certify the granting of the waiver in a manner acceptable to the Authority and shall also maintain documentation substantiating the reason for the waiver. History (2013-360, s. 11.15(g).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.6, made this section effective July 1, 2013. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 11.15(i), made this section applicable to the 2014-2015 academic year and each subsequent academic year. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 11.15(h), as amended by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 11.8, provides: "The State Education Assistance Authority, in consultation with The University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, shall study ways to structure its financial aid payment schedules to encourage students to complete an average of 30 credit hours per academic year. The State Education Assistance Authority shall make an interim report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 1, 2015, on its progress or lack thereof in developing such schedules and shall make a final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by October 1, 2015, about the financial aid payment schedules it proposes to implement. "After submitting its final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the State Education Assistance Authority shall structure its payment schedules to encourage students to complete an average of 30 credit hours per academic year. The revised payment schedules shall be in place for financial aid awards made for the 2016-2017 academic year and all subsequent academic years." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.'" Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year." Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.